Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-11
WHAT CAPTAIN WARD SAYS.
Some Valuable Info rm on bout the
 New Rules of PitchIng-Full Inter-

NcW 1tu1e8 OH F1tch10S-FuH Inter-
 pretation of the Pitching Rules.
 'But few pitchers" says Captain Ward of the New York base ball club, Understand the new rules of pitching perfectly. Of course we expect men to object to changes in the rules, but this time it is only the jump ing men who are doing the kicking. Such men as Keefe, Weich, Radbourne and several other easy pitchers like them, do not say anything against the change. Why's Because they know it is much easier to pitch in a free and-easy manner than to do a double shuttle breakdown while pitching the ball. To understand the change better let us compare the old and new rules.
 ''In the old rules the pitcher was supposed to keep within the lines of his position while in the act of delivering the ball. He was re- quired to face the batter, meaning that he could not turn his back. He was not to balk. Now, which of these three things didn't he do? He took hop, skip and jump and let the ball go He was always out of the box and as for baking, he did little else. I, like many others, believe that this tended to in jure the game of base ball far more than any thing else. It was the starting point of all the disputes over the umpire's decisions, and to do away with these is the main point which we worked to secure. We believe it has been accomplished.
 'Here is the new rule:
 ''The pitcher shall take his position facing the batsman, with both feet squarey on the ground the right foot the line of the box, his left foot in advance of the right, and to the left of nag mary line from his right foot to the center of home base He shall not raise his right foot, unless in the act of delivering the ball, nor make more than before delivery. fairly in front of his body and in sight of the the umpire In the eet case of left handed reversed. When a pitcher feigns to throw the ball to base he must resume the above position. and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat.
 'Some pitchers think that they obey the rule when they stand 8 little sideways. This is wrong. The American association have instructed their men that they must stand square, and the League will do the same.
 ''Ihe kicking is mostly on account of the freer batting which will be done, but it is declared by some pitchers that the position is unnatural I can't see it in that way.
 Heretofore the pitcher could make any motion he chose in delivering the ball; now he can take but one step in so doing. For this reason the box was shortened to five and half feet. This is said to be too short. Well, all I have to say about that is that would like to see the man who will cover five and a half feet in pitching the ball. In pitching the ball he may take as long a stride as he sees fit. After he has taken the step and is in the act of delivering the ball, he can raise his right foot. He is not com pelled to keep it on the ground, as has been explained several times, but I don't think the foot will be lifted very often, as it is wanted for purchase on the ground. In delivering the bail the pitcher throws his body forward, landing square on his left foot
 ''The umpire can see every move made by the pitcher, and at the same time see the ball. Heretofore he could not watch the feet ~G ,k@1 ha11 ole P1f% hi brings up another kick on the part of the pitcher. He says he cannot pitch so swiftly or get such a good curve on the ball. Here, again, I differ with him to 8 certain extent. think he will be able to get almost the same curve that he had under the old rules. He may not be as speedy at first, but after practice the speed will come back. Look at George pitch. He has probably greater speed under the new rule than he had under the old one. He has plenty of curve, too. Just ask any of the New York pitchers.
 Compare pitcher under the new rules with a catcher.A pitcher has to pitch the ball 50 feet, while catcher must throw 12O feet to second base; yet catcher never takes more than one step; he doesn't have the time. Take Ewing or one of the other great catchers. He throws to second with as much force pitcher employs in pitching over the plate. If he did not he would never catch his man.
 "One of the most important changes in the pitching rules is that which tends to prevent a balk. The rule was arranged with much care, and is calculated to do away with any motion on the part of the pitcher to deceive a base runner. Heretofore pitchers made a forward motion, which the umpire saw plain ly was not motion to pitch but from side view obtained by the runner it seemed as though he was about to deliver the ball. of lad 4o &ba faof hn cuse was made that it was one of the man B preliminary motions in pitching the ball ,and of course the umpire could do nothing but let 1t pass. In many cases the base runner was caught at first by reason of the motion. The trick was rather sharp one, but it operated against some of the prettiest features of 8 base ball game.
 "The rule must be 1igidly interpreted. It does not prevent a pitcher from throwing to the bases when he likes, but he must not make any preparatory motion to pitch the ball before pitching it. When the pitcher does make feint, he must, if to first base, pivot around on his right foot and take one pivot around on his right foot again, and place his left foot in its former place. If feinting to second he must pivot half way around and take the step, then return to his position in the same manner as before. In throwing to base his step can be as long as ne may see ht, but his right loot must De kept on the ground, not necessarily fiat, the toe resting on the ground being sufficient.
 After making feint or throwing the ball to 8 base he must pause, so that the um- pire may plainly see that he is in position. This does away with another sharp trick by pitchers. They would make the feint to throw the ball to base, but instead of do, ing so would turn quickly and put the ball over the plate with the result of strike being called on the batsman. Some of the pitchers did it so neatly that they could get a strike about every time they tried it.
 sIn throwing the ball to third base the motion is the same as to the others, only that the pitcher must wheel round to the left. This regulation step which the pitcher is obliged to takew do much to encourage base stealing on account of the time required to make the move. Naturally therefore the decisions at the bases must be closeIs How